Operation EMS: What We do

April 2012

Waves of Health Triage and EMS Team conducts initial assessment of systems, supplies, equipment, and training. Initial meetings and discussions with Dominican Red Cross and Dajabon Hospital. Waves provides supplies and equipment to partner local responder organizations. Outcomes – Overall EMS capabilities are extremely limited. It is agreed that enhancing training and qualifications of potential providers is necessary before any equipment is sought. Before Waves begins EMS training, local partners will select skilled local volunteers for staff and leadership, provide uniform dress, and provide First Aid and CPR training to them. Operation EMS: Dajabon conceived.

November 2012

Additional procedural discussion with local collaborators. Red Cross volunteers support Waves clinic operations. Waves provides supplies and equipment to partner local responder organizations. Outcomes – Local partners exceed expectations for organization and training by providing uniformed volunteers trained in first aid and CPR and have initiated a disaster response training program.

2013

Continued strategic planning for the project. Additional procedural discussion with local collaborators during Spring and Fall medical missions. Red Cross volunteers support Waves clinic operations. Enhanced engagement with Dajabon hospital through surgical mission partnership. Waves provides supplies and equipment to partner local responder organizations. Outcomes – Red Cross supports basic patient movement requirements during medical missions and volunteers receive clinical experience. In part, because of the new initiative, the first newer ambulance is donated to Red Cross by an outside entity and two ambulances are donated to Dajabon Fire Department by Embassy of Japan.

2014

Waves of Health Triage and EMS Team conducts first coordinated training event with local volunteers from Dominican Civil Defense, Dominican Red Cross, and Dajabon Fire Department. Members of Triage and EMS Team receive first grant to support deployment and mission requirements. Waves provides supplies and equipment to partner local responder organizations. Outcomes – Dajabon first response is composed of three organized elements. Continued development of local coordination. Using train-the-trainer and scenario-based exercise techniques, local providers are trained by Waves Triage and EMS Team and show demonstrated capability to conduct trauma patient assessment, spinal stabilization, hemorrhage control, shock management, patient lift and movement, and patient transport.

June 2015

Waves of Health Triage and EMS Team conducts continuing, enhanced training with local volunteers. Waves provides supplies and equipment to partner local responder organizations. Outcomes – Local providers are trained by Waves Triage and EMS Team and demonstrate capability to conduct patient trauma assessment and prioritization, spinal stabilization, splinting, hemorrhage control, patient extraction, patient carrying and movement, high and rough terrain rescue techniques, vital sign monitoring, and more. Local leadership is established, local operations have commenced, and qualified first responders have been trained: strategic transition to system building begins.